Crank-retaining device for automobiles



Sept. 28 ,1926.

J. P. JENSEN CRANK RETAINING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Sept. l1. `1925 m gam/mw attorno! Patented Sept. 28, i926.

. asaltat JOHN?. JENSEN, 0F ESCONDIDO, CALIFORNIA.

@RANK-nErarivrnve nnvrcn non AUTOMOBILES.

Application filed September 11, 1925.

My invention relates to a crank retaining device for automobiles, and the objects of my invention are: first, to provide a very simple and economically constructed -device v 5 of this class; second, to provide a device of this class in which the means for supporting the crank retaining member forms also the springV means for resiliently retaining the crank retaining member in and out of engagement with the crank of the automobile, as desired; third, to provide a device of this class having a crank retaining member pivotally mounted atits oneend and provided 'at its -free end with a loop portion adapted to receive and engage the crank of the automobile and be resiliently held thereagainst by a spring means on its supporting means; fourth, to provide as a whole a novelly constructed crank retaining device, and fifth, to provide a device of this class which is durable, practical, and which will not readilyrd'eteriorate or get out of order.

VVith-these and other objects in view, as will appear hereinafter, my invention con- "k sistsuof certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanyingV drawings and to the characters of reference thereon, which form a part of this application, in which:

.Figure 1 is a'fragmentary tional view of an automobile,

front elevashowing my crank retaining device in connection therewith for holding the crank of the automobile in an upright position; Fig. 2 is a top view thereof; Fig. 3 is a sectional elevational view thereof, taken through 3-3 of Fig. V1, and Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional elevational view of the supporting andretaining portion of my device, showing the crank retaining member fragmentarily in a position to retain the crank in an upright position and showing the same by dotted lines in an out-of-the-way or normally disengaged position from they crank of the automobile.

Like characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawings.y

The supporting bracket 1, resilient jour- Ynal and spring members 2, rivets 8, and the crank positioning :or 'retaining' member 4,

constitute the'principal parts and portions of my attachmentor device ,in form of construction. s

its preferred the U portions being substantially opposed v Serial No. 55,649.

The particular type of automobile-shown fragmentarily in the drawings, on which my device is mounted, is one known Vas the Ford automobile. The front portion thereofv consists of a transversely positioned supporting channel 5 in which are positioned the middle portions of the leaf spring members 6, a U-shaped clamp 7 extending over and around the channel 5 andV downwardly at the front and rear sides thereof, a plate 8 positioned at the lower side of the channel 5 and leaf spring unit, nuts securing the plate 8 to the clamp member 7 and the channel 5, a journal 10 secured to the upper portion of the clamp` member 7, a crank11 ro- 1 Vtatably mounted at its crank portion in said journal, and the radiator 12 positioned above the channel 5 and behind the crank 11, as shown rlhe supporting bracket 1 extends transversely of the automobile in front of the supporting channel 5 thereof andV is reduced and bent backwardly at its middle portion, as indicated by 11L in Figs. 1 and 3. This 80 backwardly extending or bent portion 1a of the supporting bracket 1 is secured between the plate 8 and the nuts 9 at the under side of the plate, from which portion the supporting bracket extends upwardly. The latera-lly extended ends 1b of the supporting bracket 1 are offset forwardly and provided with elongated slots for supporting the 'conventional vehicle license plates. PositionedV intermediate the forwardly offset portions 1l 1 and adjacent either of them are the journal and spring members 2, which are secured at their lower portions to the front side of the supporting bracket 1 by means of the rivets 3 or any other suitable means. Each of the members 2 is split downwardly from its upper end, as indicated by 2a, forming the leaf spring portion 2c at its inner portion or end. The other portion of the member 2 formed by the slit is rolled backwardly forming journal portions 2b.

The crank retaining member 4 is preferably made of a forging in double U form,

to each other. The main legs 4a of the memma ber 4 converge upwardly andare provided at their lower ends with laterally extending bearing portions 4b which are rotatably mounted in the journal portions of the members 2. The upperA ends of the legs 4a U0 are spaced apart and connected with each other by the U portion 4. the Outer ends of the legs of which portion C connect with the upwardly converging ends of the legs i? The U portion la is adapted to straddle the arm of the crank ll when said crank is in an upright position. shown in the drawings, and when the crank retaining member l is shifted outwardly, as shown by solid lines in Fig. 3. Intermediate the lower ends of the legs at and the bearing portions et" ot the member 4: are provided forwardly eX- tending cam portions eta which are adapted to engage the spring membersfor portions 2 ot' the members 2 at opposite sides ot a perpendicular line extending ltoward the spring member near the point ol engagement thereof with the cam portion for holding the member 4 in an outward or crank retaining position, shown by solid lines in Fig', il, or in an out-of-the-way or substantially upright position, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. Il.

The upper t'ree end of the ymember il is provided with a pair of outwardly extending lugs or handle portions 4@ to facilitate the shitting of said members to either position. as shown.

Though Iliave shown and described a particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, I do not wish to be limited 'to this particular construction. combination and arrangement, but desire to include in the scope of my invention. the construction, combination and arrangement. substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention,l what claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. ln a device ol the class lescribed, a supporting bracket adapted to be secured to the front portion of a vehicle contiguous to the crank thereof and provided at its upper portion with journal portions, a crank retaining member pivotally mounted at its lower end in said ljournal portions and provided at its upper tree end with a U-shaped portion adapted to receive and straddle the arm ot the crank of the vehicle intermediate the ends of the arms, cam means on said crank retaining member at the pivotal portion thereof, and spring means cin connection with said bracket adapted to variously engage said cam means, for resiliently retaining said member in engagement with Vthe arm of said crank and out ot engagement therewith.

2. n a device of the class described, a bracket adapted to be secured at the Afront portion of a vehicle contig-.tous to the crank portion `thereot and provided at its upper end with journal portions, a 'substantially 5.3 haped crank retaining'inemberprorided lower end with ylaterally ektending ipp'orting portions `pi-votally mounted in ne journalportioas of said bracket and pmvided at itsv upper free end with a ol-shaped portion adapted to receive and straddle the arm ot the crank ot said vehicle and loosely` support the same therein, said crank retaining member beine,` provided at its; lower end near the portions pivotally mounted iu the journal portions ot' said bracket with extended cam portions, and leat springs mounted on said bracket adapted to engage .said cam portions for retaining said crank retaining member in engagement with the arm ot said crank or in a disengaged position therefrom,

3. In a device ot the class described, a supporting bracket adapted to be secured to the front portion oi a vehicle contiguous to the crank portion thereof, a pair of journal and spring members secured to said bracket and extending upwardly therefrom, a crank retaining member provided at its lower end with laterally extending supportingr portions pivotally mounted in the journal portions ot said journal and spring members and provided at its upper free end with a U-shaped portion adapted to receive and straddle the arm ot the crank of said vehicle tor holding,T the same in an upright position, and cam means on the laterally extending supporting portions ot'said` crank retaining me ber adapted to variously engage the spring portion ot said journal and spring members.

slr. vln a device of the class described. a supporting bracket adapted to be secured to the tront portion oi,l a vehicle a pair oi" resilient metal plates secured to said bracket and extending upwardly therefrom. said plates being slit dmvnwardly from their upper ends, each Yforming a journal portion `and a lea't spring portion, and a substantially double U-shaped crank retaining member formed in a large inverted U and a smaller U portion at the upper end ot said member adapted to receive and straddle 'the arm ot the crank of' said vehicle. the lower ends ot the legs oit said crank retainingl member being bent outwardly and pivotally mounted by said outwardly bent portions on the journal portions ot said plates. said outwardly bent portions being provided with forwardly extending' cam portions adapted to engage the springr portions ot said plates and retain the crank retaining member in engagement with the arm o' the crank of the vehicle or in a disengaged position relatively thereto.

5. In a device ot the class described. a supporting bracket formed in a right angle, the one horizontal portion thereof being secured to the trent portion ot a vehicle and the other portion 'extending upwardly therefrom, apair of resilient metal plates, journal Vand spring-members secured to said bracket 'and extending upwardl,7 therefrom, and a crank retaining member provided at its lli) upper end vWith a U-shaped portion adapted 'to receive and straddle the arm of the crank 01"' said vehicle and pivotally mounted at its lower end in the journal portions of said journal and spring members, the lower ends of said crank retainingmembers being provided' with cam portions adapted to variously engage the spring portions of said journal and spring members for retaining said crank retaining member in engagement with the arm of said crank or in a disengaged position relatively thereto.

ln testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at San Diego, California, this 15th day of July, 1925.

JOHN P. JENSEN. 

